Safety & Accident

NYC Adds Auto-Braking Vehicles, Solar EV Chargers

New York City is rolling out auto-braking vehicles, expanding solar electric vehicle charging carports, and working to promote safety in the city’s automotive high schools, the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) announced on May 11 at its City Fleet and Equipment Show.

As part of Vision Zero, NYC has finalized a Safe Fleet Transition Plan (SFTP) in partnership with the Volpe Center at U.S. Department of Transportation. Under the plan, NYC will receive its first 450 vehicles with automatic braking, which helps stop a vehicle before it hits another vehicle, person, or object. The city’s new electric Chevrolet Bolts and plug-in Toyota Prius Primes will come with automatic braking.

The SFTP will require a broad array of safety investments including automatic braking where available, rear and side guards for trucks, and backup cameras and assists.

Additionally, DCAS finalized a contract with Envision Solar for 30 solar carports to charge electric vehicles completely off the grid. The city will roll out the solar carports to fleet locations citywide in 2017. During Earth Week, Mayor de Blasio announced that NYC would acquire 1,000 electric vehicles ahead of schedule, and the carports will power these vehicles. In 2018, DCAS will also pilot public access for some of these solar units.

Finally, NYC also created a partnership with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) to promote safety at NYC’s automotive high schools and driver education programs.

“NYC Fleet is investing in the fleet of the future — electric and hybrid plug-in vehicles, powered by the sun, and using new sharing and safety technologies,” said City Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman. “DCAS thanks all its agency partners for their support and collaboration.”